Lassithi is the most eastern department of the four departments of the island of Crete.
It is bordered to the west with the Heraklion department and for the rest it is surrounded by three seas; in the north the Cretan sea, in the east the Carpathian sea and the south Libyan sea. The narrowest part of Crete is only 12 km wide here.
The surface of Lassithi is generally mountainous. In the west lie the Dikti mountains, with the highest peak the mountain Dikti (2.148 meters). Between the mountain peaks lies the Lassithi plateau (at 800 meters altitude) and the Dikti cave which according to legend was the birthplace of Zeus.
The capital of Lassithi is the popular Agios Nikolaos on the bay of Mirabello.
In the department of Lassithi it is possible to make beautiful day trips to for example:
It is bordered to the west with the Heraklion department and for the rest it is surrounded by three seas; in the north the Cretan sea, in the east the Carpathian sea and the south Libyan sea. The narrowest part of Crete is only 12 km wide here.
The surface of Lassithi is generally mountainous. In the west lie the Dikti mountains, with the highest peak the mountain Dikti (2.148 meters). Between the mountain peaks lies the Lassithi plateau (at 800 meters altitude) and the Dikti cave which according to legend was the birthplace of Zeus.
The capital of Lassithi is the popular Agios Nikolaos on the bay of Mirabello.
In the department of Lassithi it is possible to make beautiful day trips to for example:
- Agios Nikolaos: is particularly beautiful due to the inland Voulismeni, which is surrounded by high cliffs. The small lake was connected to the harbour via a canal between 1867 and 1871. Many Greeks claim that Voulismeni would be bottomless (at least very deep). You can sit here on one of the many terraces around the lake.
- Elounda (Elounta): has about 2,200 inhabitants, the majority of whom are involved in tourism. A number of luxury hotel complexes are also located here. Elounda is known because the TV series "Who pays the ferryman" is included here. At the harbour there are fish restaurants and tavernas and from here the excursion boats leave for Spinalonga.
- Ierapetra: the largest city in South Crete, but also the most southern city of Crete, Greece and Europe. There is a large long boulevard with all kinds of restaurants and cafes and it has a sandy beach in the extension of the quay. In the vicinity you can also find quieter beaches.
- Kato Zakros: lies on the coast about 7 km from Epano Zakros. In the surrounding area there are numerous water sources and archaeological finds. It is a small fishing village with a large sand-pebble beach. There are several fish taverns, cafeterias and other restaurants at the beach. Right behind the beach of Kato Zakros are the remains of a Minoan palace. It is worth a walk through the "gorge of the dead" also called "Dead Valley". The "Dead Valley" runs from Epano (above) Zakros to the sea at Kato (below) Zakros.
- Kritsa: a picturesque and traditional mountain village that lies at an altitude of 375 meters. It lies like an amphitheatre against the slope of the Kastella mountain and is known for its handicrafts and in the long village street you will find all kinds of stalls with rugs, carpets, pots, etc.
- Lassithi plateau: is wedged between the Dikti- and Selena mountain and the road to it is very spectacular because of the fantastic views and is also accessible via Hersonissos, Stalis or Agios Nikolaos. There are many traditional villages on the edges or on the plains that are worth a visit. Characteristic of the Lassithi plain are the hundreds of windmills that used to be there. These windmills were used by the inhabitants to pump water from the ground, nowadays they are still a few pure as decor.
- The cave of Zeus (Dikti cave): in the north of the plain is the village of Psichro. From the parking lot there are two hiking trails that lead you to the cave of Zeus. The legend says that Zeus was born here. The cave is very deep, you can walk all the way down via two stairs (200 steps). The cave is now beautifully lit and in the cave there are beautiful stalactites and stalagmites to see.
- Mirtos: far away from the noisy and overcrowded mass tourism you will find the friendly village of Mirtos (700 permanent inhabitants) with its typical Cretan hospitality. Mirtos has a particularly subtropical climate because it is protected by the Dikti Mountains. This climate is almost unique for the entire island. The spring and autumn are sunny and the winter is mild. The summer is of course very hot, but because of its location by the sea there is always a cooling sea breeze.
- Plaka: a small traditional fishing village with nice (fish) tavernas, near the seaside resort of Elounda. The village is located exactly opposite the island Spinalonga. Plaka is famous for the scenes shot here for the movie "Who pays the ferryman" but also for the TV series "To Nisi". Boats leave for Spinalonga from the fishing harbour.
- Sitia (Siteia): a nice little town on the northeast coast, built against the slopes of a low hill and radiating geniality and warmth. There are dozens of terraces along the boulevard. The arrival of an airport at Sitia makes it easier to visit the east coast of Crete without too much transfer.
- Spinalonga: can be reached with organized excursions from Agios Nikolaos and Elounda. From Plaka there are also boats to reach the island. When the Turkish threat increased in the 16th century, the Venetians built a powerful fortress here. In 1715 the Turks took over this fortress and in 1903 they had to leave again. From that time on it was set up as a leper colony where people were banished with leprosy and where they had to live isolated from the outside world. Life on Spinalonga was certainly not easy for the people who had to live here. They could only be helped by morphine and if necessary, by amputation of body parts. In the year 1950 the medicines against leprosy were also available to the people at Spinalonga and they could return to normal society. After the leper colony was lifted in 1957, the buildings quickly decayed, so that this place makes a melancholy impression. A number of these dilapidated houses have now been restored. Visiting the island of Spinalonga is an impressive experience. In 2012, the Greek TV channel Mega broadcast the beautiful 26-part series "To Nisi". This is a fantastic adaptation of Victoria Hislop's book "The Island" about life on Spinalonga.
- Monastery of Toplou: (15 km east of Sitia) is one of the largest and most important monasteries of Crete. This monastery is also called "Panagia Akrotiriani" (Holy Mother of the Cape) and is, as it were, a fortress with no less than 10 meters high walls. Within the walls there is a building that consists of three floors and smaller buildings. These buildings served, among other things, as cells for the monks, kitchens, warehouses and for the reception of guests.
- Vai: a unique palm forest of Cretan date palms and a beautiful blue sea with beautiful sandy beach give Vai the appearance of a paradise. The name comes from "vaia", which means palm branch. The area is now a protected nature area.